The Cincinnati Bengals will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium today as both teams kick off their three-game preseason slate. The Bengals are expected to play their starters, including Joe Burrow, while the Bucs are choosing to roll with their backups.
Since preseason games are broadcast using local teams that many fans might be unfamiliar with, you might be wondering who will be in the booth calling this game.
Here’s everything you need to know about this Week 1 preseason matchup between the Bengals and Buccaneers, including a breakdown of the local broadcasters, how to watch, how to listen, the start time, and more.
Buccaneers and Texans Announcers, Broadcast Details, and More
- Start time: Saturday, August 10, 2024, 7 p.m. ET
- Channel: Local
- Live stream options: NFL+
- Radio stations: Bengals Radio Network, Buccaneers Radio Network, WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (1530), WEBN-FM (102.7)
- Starting QBs: Kyle Trask, Joe Burrow
- Betting lines:
- Spread: CIN -4.5
- Total: 38
- Moneyline: CIN -218, TB +180
Buccaneers fans can watch the game on WTTA-TV (CW) or live stream the contest from Buccaneers.com. Meanwhile, Bengals fans will be able to watch the broadcast on FOX19.
The local Tampa broadcast will feature Chris Myers (play-by-play), Rondé Barber (analyst), and Dan Lucas (reporter). Barber is a Buccaneers legend and Hall of Famer who helped Tampa Bay win Super Bowl XXXVII. He spent his entire 16-year NFL career wearing the red and pewter.
The local Cincinnati broadcast will feature Mike Watts (play-by-play), Anthony Munoz (analyst), and Marisa Contipelli (sideline reporter) on the call. Munoz played for the Bengals from 1980 to 1992, and he was an 11-time Pro Bowler.
Buccaneers vs. Bengals Game Preview
Last year, the Bucs exceeded all expectations in their first season of the post-Tom-Brady era. While most analysts expected them to bottom out and land a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Tampa Bay won the NFC South for a third-straight season and even managed to win a playoff game, defeating the Eagles in the Wild Card round and challenging the Lions in the Divisional Round.
This will be the first look at their new offense, with Liam Coen taking over offensive coordinator duties from Dave Canales, who accepted the Panthers’ head-coaching gig during the offseason.
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Also, Bucs fans are excited to get a look at the 2024 draft class, as Tampa Bay has a number of rookies who are expected to play significant roles, including center Graham Barton, EDGE Chris Braswell, wide receiver Jalen McMillan, running back Bucky Irving, and nickel/safety Tykee Smith. The team is counting on these newcomers to produce — similar to last year’s rookies who played a lot, such as defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, right guard Cody Mauch, outside linebacker YaYa Diaby, wide receiver Trey Palmer, and nickel/safety Christian Izien.
The Bucs have several position battles that feature a rookie trying to supplant a sophomore, including Smith and Izien battling for the nickel role, and McMillan and Palmer competing for the WR3 role.
Meanwhile, Bengals entered last season with Super Bowl hopes but struggled relative to expectations, missing the playoffs after Joe Burrow went down with a season-ending right wrist injury in Week 11. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor recently said he’s expecting to play his starters in this game, including QB Joe Burrow. It would be Burrow’s first game action since his season-ending wrist surgery in November of last year. It remains to be seen how much Cincy’s starters will play, but at least we’ll get a glimpse at their first unit on both sides of the ball.
One player we likely won’t see is star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who has been absent during training camp as he holds out for a new contract. It seems unlikely that he would play in a preseason game without getting any practices in. Burrow recently opened up about Chase’s contract situation, expressing his support for his friend and adding that he’s “been able to give some insight into how my [2023 contract-negotiation] process was because I think it’s pretty similar.”
The Bengals have several position battles worth paying attention to, including at running back (with Zack Moss and Chase Brown competing for starting duties), WR3 (between Andrei Iosivas and third-round pick Jermaine Burton), and right tackle (between first-rounder Amarius Mims and veteran Trent Brown, who’s been sidelined due to an injury). While training camp performances can certainly help a player stand out amidst a position battle, showing up when the lights are brightest is the best way to get the attention of coaches and win the starting job.
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